Electrical Terminology

Question 0

A material opposes current flow

Answer 0

Resistor

Question 1

The flow of electrons from an electron source (through wires)

Answer 1

Electrical current

Question 2

A device that stores electrical energy

Answer 2

Capacitor

Question 3

Opposition of biological tissues to the flow of electrical current

Answer 3

impedance

Question 4

Flow of current in one direction (negative or positive)

Answer 4

Direct current

Question 5

Flow of current first in one direction then in the other (bidirectional)

Answer 5

alternating current

Question 6

Synonymous with alternating current

Answer 6

Biphasic

Question 7

Current flow in one direction

Answer 7

Phase

Question 8

synonymous with direct current

Answer 8

Monophasic

Question 9

Time period from beginning to end of one phase (leave isoelectric line until it returns)

Answer 9

phase duration

Question 10

Time between phases (interphase interval)

Answer 10

Interphase duration

Question 11

Time from isoelectric line until maximum amplitude

Answer 11

phase rise time

Question 12

time from maximum amplitude until back at isoelectric line

Answer 12

phase decay time

Question 13

Equal to phase duration for DC current and 2x phase duration for AC current

Answer 13

pulse duration

Question 14

Series of successive pulses or cycles over a period of time

Answer 14

burst

Question 15

Time between beginning of 1st and end of last cycle or pulse

Answer 15

burst duration

Question 16

time between two successive bursts

Answer 16

interburst duration

Question 17

The resulting current waveform when 2 or more sinusoidal waves intersect (interfere) with each other

Answer 17

beat

Question 18

Number of times per second that a pulse, cycle, burst, or beat occurs

Answer 18

Frequency

Question 19

Magnitude of current relative to the isoelectric line measured in amperes (Amps, A).Usually in micro to miliamperes. Can be peak, peak-to-peak, average, or root mean square

Answer 19

amplitude

Question 20

continuous series of pulses, cycles, bursts or beats over time(usually seconds)

Answer 20

Train

Question 21

Ratio of on to off time expressed as a percentage

Answer 21

Duty cycle

Question 22

Time period where current amplitude is increasing from zero to maximum

Answer 22

Ramp up

Question 23

Time period where current amplitude is decreasing from maximum to zero

Answer 23

Ramp down

Question 24

Changes in amplitude, pulse duration, pulse frequency, or a combination of these to prevent nerve accommodation to stimulation

Answer 24

modulation